Egyptian football pundit Ahmed Shobeir has launched a sharp critique of what he described as two “ridiculous phenomena” affecting the Egyptian Premier League this season, raising concerns about discipline and professionalism across the competition.
Speaking on his radio programme on Monday, Shobeir pointed to the increasing number of suspended coaches and unsporting conduct during penalty kicks as signs of deeper issues within the domestic game.
Coaching suspensions raise concerns
Shobeir’s first criticism focused on the frequency with which managers are forced to watch matches from the stands due to suspensions.
“There are two ridiculous phenomena in the Egyptian league. The first is that half of the coaches are sitting in the stands because of suspension.”
He highlighted how commonplace the situation has become, suggesting it undermines the role of leadership on the touchline.
“Every time I watch a match, I find two coaches in the stands, and in another match, I find one coach in the stands and another on the bench, and then the opposite happens in the next match.”
According to Shobeir, such behaviour sends the wrong message to players, particularly when coaches—expected to set standards—are frequently involved in disputes.
“The issue of firing coaches has become too common, and today you, as a coach, represent a role model for the team and a role model for your players. If you are the one making all these objections and stirring up crises and problems, what will the player do?”
His remarks follow a recent incident involving Nabil Kouki, head coach of Al-Masry, who watched from the stands during his side’s 4-1 defeat to Zamalek after receiving a suspension.
Controversial behaviour during penalties
The former goalkeeper also criticised what he described as unsporting tactics during penalty situations, labelling them as unprecedented outside Egyptian football.
“The second phenomenon, which is the most ridiculous phenomenon you can see in your life, and I only see it in Egyptian stadiums, as I never see it in any other stadiums, is when a penalty kick is awarded, you find a player from the team awarded the kick sitting on the penalty spot not for good luck, but to dig under the ball so that it is not shot accurately by the opposing team’s player.”
Shobeir explained that such actions can directly influence the outcome of matches by affecting the execution of penalties.
“It is known that the ball must be placed on the same spot to execute a penalty kick, but because of this we see many balls going out of bounds, and sometimes even into the stands, in poor conditions, especially since the stadiums are not in the best condition in the first place.”
Questions over Al Ahly’s striker concerns
Shobeir also turned his attention to Al Ahly, expressing scepticism over complaints regarding a lack of striking options.
He argued that the concerns appear misplaced given the emergence of several promising young players who have begun to establish themselves both domestically and internationally.
Among the examples cited was the move of young striker Hamza Abdelkarim to Barcelona, which he presented as evidence of the talent pipeline available to Egyptian clubs.
He also noted that Bilal Attia is close to securing a professional opportunity in Spain, further underlining the presence of emerging attacking options.
Calls for discipline and structural improvement
Shobeir’s remarks reflect growing concern about standards within the Egyptian Premier League, particularly around discipline and fair play. While individual incidents may appear minor, he suggested that their cumulative impact risks damaging the league’s credibility.
As clubs continue to navigate a competitive season, his comments serve as a call for greater accountability from both coaches and players, alongside improved adherence to the rules of the game.
